American Team Reclaims World Record with Massive Flag Skydive on Pearl Harbor Day
In a breathtaking display of patriotism and aerial skill, a team of elite skydivers unfurled a massive 3,200-square-foot American flag over Arizona on Pearl Harbor Day, reclaiming a world record previously held by Libya. The spectacular jump, which took place on December 7, 2025, in Eloy, Arizona, nearly doubled the size of Libya’s October 5th record-setting flag deployment over Benghazi. The historic achievement was the result of a vision that began with a simple social media post when retired U.S. Army Ranger Jariko Denman saw Libya’s record and challenged others with the question: “Who’s down to break this record?” This casual call to action quickly evolved into a mission to bring the world record back to American soil, particularly meaningful as the nation approaches its 250th birthday celebrations in 2026.
The ambitious project came together when Denman connected with entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, and they assembled an extraordinary team of professionals from Skydive Arizona and Skydive Chicago, including Hall of Fame skydiver Rook Nelson. Adding to the patriotic significance of the attempt, several veterans joined the effort, including Montana’s Republican Senator Tim Sheehy, along with Steve Curtis and Nick Kush. Though the date of Pearl Harbor Day was selected primarily based on scheduling availability, it provided a fitting backdrop for this display of American pride and achievement. The jump itself was executed from a Vietnam-era Huey helicopter at approximately 10,000 feet, creating a powerful visual connection between different eras of American military history and showcasing the enduring spirit of American innovation and determination.
The technical challenges of the record attempt were immense and unprecedented. No one had ever attempted to deploy a flag of this magnitude during a freefall jump, creating what Denman described as “a lot of unknowns” that made the record-setting attempt “a pretty scary one.” The flag itself presented significant logistical challenges, weighing in at 170 pounds and introducing unique risks that the team had to carefully mitigate. These concerns meant that only the most experienced members of the group actually handled the flag during the freefall, while others, including Denman, Isaacman, and Senator Sheehy, participated in the jump without controlling the flag itself. The successful execution required extensive planning, engineering innovation, and precise coordination among jumpers and ground crew members.
Behind the scenes, the effort represented a triumph of American ingenuity and teamwork. While Denman initiated the idea, he generously credited Steve Curtis for doing “the brunt of the work” and highlighted Sterling Becklin’s crucial contribution in engineering “the whole system from nothing.” This collaborative approach exemplified the American values of shared effort and mutual support in pursuit of extraordinary goals. The technical complexity of safely deploying and controlling a flag of unprecedented size during freefall cannot be overstated – it required developing new methods and solutions for challenges that had never before been encountered in similar jumps. The fact that all personnel and equipment landed safely is a testament to the meticulous planning and professional execution by everyone involved.
For Senator Sheehy, the achievement represented more than just a new entry in the record books – it was a powerful symbol of American pride and heritage. “I was honored to be part of the incredible team of veterans, SEALs, Army Rangers, and some of the best skydivers in the world who returned the world record for the largest flag ever parachuted out of an aircraft back to the United States,” he said, expressing the sentiment shared by the entire team. The timing of this achievement, coming as America prepares to celebrate its semiquincentennial, adds special significance to the record. As Sheehy put it: “There’s no question about it: this record belongs on American soil, and setting it alongside this great team of patriots is a fitting way to kick off the celebration for 250 years of American independence next year.”
The certified jump will now be submitted to the Guinness Book of World Records, formalizing America’s reclamation of this spectacular aerial achievement. More than just a technical accomplishment or a response to Libya’s previous record, this breathtaking display represents the continuation of America’s long tradition of pushing boundaries and achieving what once seemed impossible. From Eloy’s clear Arizona skies, the team not only deployed the largest flag ever flown in freefall but also created an unforgettable image of American pride – 3,200 square feet of red, white, and blue floating majestically through the air, a perfect embodiment of the soaring American spirit that has defined the nation throughout its history and will continue to inspire as it enters its 250th year.
